Senior Moments

On By gxhIn Writing and poetryLeave a comment

I was given several books at Christmas, which was nice.  One of them was Senior Moments, sub-titled ” The Complete Guide on How to be Senior” (by Angus Fitzsimons).   It’s mostly very funny, but of course it’s one of those books that you pick up for a few minutes and then put down.  There’s also a stage show.

It’s interesting for the fact that it reprises many of the TV shows, movies, actors and other personalities that seniors are familiar with.   The detail and insights in this regard are impressive.

It also includes senior “guides” to events such as weddings, the gym, funerals and more.

What’s the saying?  “Many a true word is spoken in jest”?  Just one instance – “As a senior you already have many things to complain about, starting with old favourites like your daughter-in-law, medications that don’t work, and how the Test Cricket is being ruined.  But why not try some new things and meet Similarly Annoyed Seniors in the process?….”   Examples are given of shop assistants, men wearing sandshoes and bank emergency lines where operators ask ‘Can you remember your password’.

There’s lots more of course, all good for a decent chuckle.

West Beach Pavillion

On By gxhIn Around melbourne, Dining and restaurantsLeave a comment

We had lunch at West Beach Pavillion.  I hadn’t been there before.  It’s really all about the location:  it’s a lovely spot on a great beach.   The food was OK, but the coffee prices are on the high side.  I suppose the price of the coffee includes the cost of renting a table on or near the sand!  And the Council’s charges for parking are up there too, especially if you’re only staying for a short time.

Advance Australia Fair

On By gxhIn Government and politics, Writing and poetry1 Comment

Scott Morrison wrote an article in The Australian, referring to the proposal to change the words of Advance Australia Fair from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free”.   I suppose this change is unobjectionable.

However, I was most impressed with the way in which he dealt with the change (in Bob Hawke’s time, seemingly) from “Australia’s sons let us rejoice” to “Australians all let us rejoice”.    Referring to the current change, he wrote, “It is not the first time we have made these type of changes. It has been more than 35 years since prime minister Bob Hawke made the last change in 1984…”.   But he conspicuously didn’t say what that change had been.

The ABC was coy, too.

Well, best not to stir up distracting issues, I suppose!

New Year’s Greetings

On By gxhIn Commemorations, Lorne1 Comment

It’s been said a few times, so not original, but hopefully 2021 will be an improvement on 2020!

At this time of year, we’re often at Lorne.   Some years it’s hot but there have been years when it’s quite cool.   We’re not there this year (weren’t prepared to commit during lockdown), so in a perverse way, it’s not really a problem for us that this is one of the cool years.

 

Buying a knife

On By gxhIn Consumer issuesLeave a comment

Coles are running a promotion whereby you can accumulate “points” which can be exchanged for various types of kitchen knives.  I redeemed some points at the self-service checkout, but the machine summoned the attendant.   It turns out that knives are an “age restricted” item.    I offered to show my Seniors Card but was told this wasn’t necessary.   I suppose my appearance was enough!

In fact, for a moment, I was worried that “age restricted” meant you couldn’t have a knife if you were too old, but seems this isn’t so – it’s just that people under 18 can’t buy it.

Studio audience

On By gxhIn Commemorations, ReligionLeave a comment

On Christmas Eve, I watched some parts of Carols by Candlelight, performed without an audience. And on Christmas Day, I participated in the service at our local Church.   It was “zoomed”, but I was involved as part of the “studio audience”, at the Church.  It was quite strange, watching the service being conducted in front of a computer screen from a near-empty Church, complete with candles and organist – but empty pews.